36th Mississippi Infantry Regiment

Last updated
36th Mississippi Infantry Regiment
Active1862-1865
CountryFlag of the Confederate States of America (1865).svg  Confederate States of America
AllegianceFlag of Mississippi (1861-1865).svg  Mississippi
BranchBattle flag of the Confederate States of America.svg  Confederate States Army
Type Infantry
Size Regiment
Battles American Civil War

The 36th Mississippi Infantry Regiment was an infantry unit of the Confederate States Army. Formed in 1862, mostly of men from Copiah County, Mississippi, the 36th Regiment fought in many battles of the Western Theater of the American Civil War before being captured at Fort Blakely, Alabama in the closing days of the conflict.

Contents

History

Plaque commemorating Col. William Witherspoon of the 36th Mississippi, at Vicksburg National Military Park. 21-32-252-witherspoon-cropped.jpg
Plaque commemorating Col. William Witherspoon of the 36th Mississippi, at Vicksburg National Military Park.

The companies of the 36th Infantry Regiment were organized in May 1862, with an original strength of 602 men. [1] The 36th first saw action during the Siege of Corinth, fighting at Farmington on May 9, where the Regiment earned praise from General James Patton Anderson, who wrote: "A large portion of the Thirty-sixth Mississippi regiment, although never having formed a line of battle or heard a hostile gun before, behaved with that gallantry and spirit which characterized the troops of that chivalrous State on every field." [2]

In September, the 36th fought at the Battle of Iuka, the conduct of the commanding officers of the regiment was praised in an after-action report by brigade commander Colonel John Donelson Martin. [3] During the Second Battle of Corinth, the Regiment took several casualties while charging the Union-held defensive works around the town.

In early 1863 the regiment was sent to the trenches around Vicksburg to take part in the defense of the city. The 36th took numerous casualties during Union assaults on the defenses. On July 4, the defenders of Vicksburg surrendered, and the 36th Regiment was taken prisoner along with the rest of the Confederate garrison. The 36th Mississippi suffered 28 killed and 72 wounded during the siege. [4] Col. William Witherspoon of the 36th was acting brigade commander for most of the siege, and afterwards he was recommended for promotion to brigadier general by his fellow officers, [5] but he never received a promotion.

The regiment was exchanged, reorganized, and assigned to the brigade of General Claudius W. Sears before being sent to Georgia in the spring of 1864. During the Atlanta Campaign, the 36th fought at New Hope Church, Kennesaw Mountain, Atlanta, and Lovejoy's Station. [1] After the Confederate defeat at Atlanta, the 36th Regiment joined General John Bell Hood's Franklin–Nashville campaign, fighting at Allatoona, Franklin, and Nashville. The 36th took many casualties during the desperate charge against the Federal defenses at Franklin, including Col. Witherspoon, who was killed. [1] After the defeat of Hood's Tennessee campaign, the 36th retreated to North Mississippi.

In the spring of 1865, the 36th was sent to Alabama, where it fought at the Battle of Spanish Fort before being captured following the Confederate defeat at the Battle of Fort Blakeley. [1] The remaining Confederate forces in the Western theater surrendered shortly afterwards.

Commanders

Commanders of the 36th Mississippi Infantry: [1]

Organization

Companies of the 36th Mississippi Infantry: [1]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">10th Mississippi Infantry Regiment</span> Infantry regiment of the Confederate States Army

The 10th Mississippi Infantry Regiment was a regiment of infantry in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. It fought in several campaigns and battles in the Western Theater.

The 1st Missouri Infantry was an infantry regiment that served in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. Originally commanded by Colonel John S. Bowen, the regiment fought at the Battle of Shiloh, where it was engaged near the Peach Orchard on April 6, 1862. On April 7, during the Union counterattacks at Shiloh, the regiment was instrumental in preventing the Washington Artillery from being captured. The regiment was next engaged at the Second Battle of Corinth, where it outflanked several Union positions. On the second day at Corinth, the regiment was only minimally engaged. On November 7, the 1st Missouri Infantry was combined with the 4th Missouri Infantry to form the 1st and 4th Missouri Infantry (Consolidated), as a result of heavy battle losses in both regiments.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">9th Arkansas Infantry Regiment</span> Military unit

The 9th Arkansas Infantry Regiment was a regiment of the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. It served in the Western Theater, seeing action in the Vicksburg, Tennessee and Georgia campaigns. Due to attrition; the 9th Arkansas was consolidated several times with other Arkansas regiments, finally merging in 1865 into the 1st Arkansas Consolidated Mounted Rifles.

The 43rd Mississippi Infantry Regiment was a regiment of infantry in the Confederate States Army. It fought in many battles and campaigns of the American Civil War. It was known as "The Camel Regiment" after its mascot, Douglas the camel.

Wade's Battery was an artillery battery in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. The battery was mustered into Confederate service on December 28, 1861; many of the members of the battery had previously served in the Missouri State Guard. Assigned to the First Missouri Brigade, the battery saw action at the Battle of Pea Ridge and the Second Battle of Corinth in 1862. In 1863, the battery fought at the Battle of Grand Gulf, where Captain William Wade, first commander of the battery, was killed. The battery later saw action at the Battle of Champion Hill, Battle of Big Black River Bridge, and the Siege of Vicksburg. When the Confederates surrendered at the end of the Siege of Vicksburg, the men of the battery became prisoners of war. After a prisoner exchange, the men of the battery were combined with Landis's Battery and Guibor's Battery on October 3, 1863, and Wade's Battery ceased to exist as a separate unit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">6th Missouri Infantry Regiment (Confederate)</span> Infantry regiment of the Confederate States Army

The 6th Missouri Infantry was an infantry regiment of the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. The regiment was formed on August 26, 1862, when two existing units were combined. Later that year, the regiment was then lightly engaged at the Battle of Iuka and saw heavy action at the Second Battle of Corinth. In 1863, the regiment was engaged at the Battle of Port Gibson, and was part of a major charge at the Battle of Champion Hill. After a defeat at the Battle of Big Black River Bridge, the regiment took part in the siege of Vicksburg, where it saw heavy fighting. The siege of Vicksburg ended on July 4 with a Confederate surrender; after being exchanged, the regiment combined with the 2nd Missouri Infantry to form the 2nd and 6th Missouri Infantry (Consolidated). The 6th Missouri Infantry ceased to exist as a separate unit.

The 4th Missouri Infantry Regiment was formed on April 28, 1862, and served in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. The infantry regiment did not see action at the Battle of Farmington on May 9, and the Battle of Iuka on September 19 despite being part of the Confederate force present at those battles. As part of Brigadier General Martin E. Green's brigade, the regiment participated in three charges against Union lines on October 3, 1862, during the Second Battle of Corinth. The following day, the regiment, along with the rest of Green's brigade, attacked the new Union lines. Despite initial success, the attack was repulsed by a Union counterattack. The regiment ceased to exist as a separate unit when it was combined with the 1st Missouri Infantry Regiment on November 7, 1862, to form the 1st and 4th Missouri Infantry Regiment (Consolidated).

The 2nd Missouri Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment that served in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. Organized on January 16, 1862, the regiment first saw major action at the Battle of Pea Ridge on March 7 and 8, 1862. After Pea Ridge, the regiment was transferred across the Mississippi River, fighting in the Battle of Farmington, Mississippi on May 9. The unit missed the Battle of Iuka in September, but was heavily engaged at the Second Battle of Corinth on October 3 and 4. The regiment helped drive in a Union position on October 3. On October 4, the 2nd Missouri Infantry, along with the rest of Colonel Elijah Gates' brigade, captured a fortification known as Battery Powell, but were forced to retreat by Union reinforcements.

The 3rd Missouri Infantry Regiment served in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. The infantry regiment was officially mustered into service on January 17, 1862. It fought at the Battle of Pea Ridge in Arkansas in March before being transferred across the Mississippi River. While stationed at Corinth, Mississippi, the regiment played a minor role in the Battle of Farmington before the evacuation of the town. In September, the unit saw light action at the Battle of Iuka before being heavily engaged during the Second Battle of Corinth as the Confederates attempted to retake the town in October. In early 1863, the regiment was transferred to Grand Gulf, Mississippi, in order to strengthen the defenses of the Mississippi River at that point. At the Battle of Grand Gulf on April 29, the unit helped repulse a Union Navy attack against the Confederate defensive works. After elements of the Union Army of the Tennessee landed below Grand Gulf, the regiment fought in a delaying action at the Battle of Port Gibson on May 1.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">5th Missouri Infantry Regiment (Confederate)</span> Infantry regiment of the Confederate States Army

The 5th Missouri Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment that served in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. The regiment entered into service on September 1, 1862, when the elements of two preceding battalions were combined. Many of the men entering the regiment had seen service with the secessionist Missouri State Guard. James McCown was the regiment's first colonel. After playing a minor role at the Battle of Iuka on September 19, the regiment then fought in the Second Battle of Corinth on October 3 and 4th. After being only lightly engaged on the 3rd, the regiment charged the Union lines on the 4th, capturing a fortification known as Battery Powell. However, Union reinforcements counterattacked and drove the regiment from the field. In early 1863, the regiment was transferred to Grand Gulf, Mississippi, where it built fortifications. The unit spent part of April operating in Louisiana, before again crossing the Mississippi River to return to Grand Gulf.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">12th Louisiana Infantry Regiment (Confederate)</span> Infantry regiment of the Confederate States Army

The 12th Louisiana Infantry Regiment was a unit of volunteers recruited in Louisiana that fought in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. Formed in August 1861, the regiment served in the Western Theater of the American Civil War and was unique in that there were 12 companies. The regiment garrisoned Island Number Ten before being stationed at Fort Pillow. It fought at Second Corinth in 1862 and Champion Hill and Jackson in 1863. A detachment served during the Siege of Vicksburg and was captured. In 1864, the regiment fought in the Meridian, Atlanta, and Franklin–Nashville campaigns, suffering heavy losses at Peachtree Creek and Franklin. It fought at Bentonville in 1865 before surrendering with General Joseph E. Johnston.

The 27th Mississippi Infantry Regiment was a regiment of infantry in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. The 27th Mississippi fought in many battles of the Western theater in Kentucky, Tennessee, and Georgia.

The 7th Mississippi Infantry Regiment was a Confederate infantry regiment from Mississippi which fought in many battles of the Western theater of the American Civil War.

The 46th Mississippi Infantry Regiment, originally designated as the 6th Battalion, Mississippi Infantry was a Confederate infantry regiment from Mississippi which fought in many battles of the Western theater of the American Civil War.

The 38th Mississippi Infantry Regiment, later redesignated as the 38th Mississippi Mounted Infantry, was a unit of the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. The regiment fought in numerous battles across Mississippi as an infantry unit, and in 1864 was reorganized as a mounted infantry regiment. As the 38th was assigned to a cavalry brigade after 1864, it is sometimes inaccurately referred to as the 38th Mississippi Cavalry, although this designation was never official.

The 6th Mississippi Infantry Regiment was a unit of the Confederate States Army that fought in many battles of the Western theater of the American Civil War. After taking heavy casualties at the Battle of Shiloh, the 6th Regiment fought in the Vicksburg Campaign, operations against anti-Confederate guerillas in Jones County, Mississippi, the Atlanta campaign, and the Franklin-Nashville campaign.

The 9th Mississippi Infantry Regiment was a Confederate infantry regiment from Mississippi. Organized from a group of volunteer companies at Pensacola in April 1861, the regiment was reorganized in 1862 and took part in many battles of the Western theater of the American Civil War before surrendering in April, 1865.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">3rd Mississippi Infantry Regiment</span> Military unit

The 3rd Mississippi Infantry Regiment was a Confederate military unit from Mississippi. Composed of volunteers from the Mississippi Gulf Coast, the 3rd Regiment was initially assigned to coastal defense, before taking part in numerous campaigns of the Western theater of the American Civil War.

The 4th Mississippi Infantry Regiment was a Confederate infantry regiment from Mississippi. The 4th Regiment, formed of volunteer companies from central Mississippi, was captured at the Battle of Fort Donelson, captured again after the Siege of Vicksburg, and then fought in the Atlanta and Tennessee campaigns before surrendering after the Battle of Fort Blakely in April, 1865.

The 14th Mississippi Infantry Regiment was a unit of the Confederate States Army from Mississippi. After fighting in numerous battles of the Western theater of the American Civil War, the Regiment surrendered in April, 1865, in North Carolina.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Rowland, Dunbar. (1908). The Official and Statistical Register of the State of Mississippi, Volume 2. Mississippi Department of Archives and History. pp. 705–710.
  2. United States War Department (1895). The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume 10, Serial 10. Washington DC: Government Printing Office. p. 814.
  3. United States War Department (1895). The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume 17, Serial 24. Washington DC: Government Printing Office. p. 132.
  4. "36th Regiment, Mississippi Infantry". National Park Service. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  5. "Letter from J. J. Smylie to Mississippi Governor John J. Pettus; October 24, 1863". The Civil War and Reconstruction Governors of Mississippi. Retrieved June 10, 2024.